Chico State romps

Chico State had zero trouble last night with host Cal State Stanislaus to the tune of 86-48. Chico SID Luke Reid has the details.

Cal State Stanislaus over Chico

Cal State Stanislaus went into Chico and emerged with a 68-66 victory last night.

Luke Reid has the game report.

Here's the Cal State Stanislaus perspective.

The Wildcats fall

Chico State stumbled at home Saturday night 79-47 versus Seattle Pacific. It was 46-25 at the half.

But senior backcourter Damario (McClymonds High) Sims did make the all-tourney team.

Chico State romps

Host Chico State handled UC Colorado Springs 68-44 on Friday night powered by 16 points (4-6 from long distance) from Damario (McClymonds High) Sims plus 15 and nine rebounds via Amir (Franklin High) Carraway. The Wildcats shot 12-22 from three-point range.

Coach Greg Clink's team hosts Seattle Pacific tonight.

Arizona too much for Chico

Chico State gave it a shot but Arizona was just too big, long and quick as the host Wildcats (as opposed to their counterparts from northern CA) triumphed 90-68 last night.

Brandon (Bishop O'Dowd High) Ashley totaled seven points and six boards in 20 minutes of play for Coach Sean Miller while Amir (Franklin High) Carraway enjoyed 13 points in 23 minutes of action for Coach Greg Clink.

Michael Regner was impressed by Carraway's play: "Amir Carraway is the real deal. He could play at a high major university. The junior who filled the statsheet for Chico State last season is poised for a breakout year for the nationally ranked Wildcats. Against Arizona he had 13 points and 3 boards."

Chico to repeat per the CCAA coaches

Rory Miller reports that Coach Greg Clink's Chico State basketball squad has been chosen by the league's coaches to repeat as the California Collegiate Athletic Association champion.

Caruso has an offer

Serra's Henry Caruso took in the Chico State campus recently and received an offer. He'll take an official visit in October.

The 6-foot-4 Caruso, who is also a top level student, was an All League WCAL honoree last season.

Here's some video:

Duncan to Chico State

Missed this from earlier: former Granite Bay backcourter Robert Duncan has returned home to northern California and Chico State.

A look at Chico State basketball

Coach Greg Clink and Chico State won the CCAA tournament championship this past season, finishing 25-8 overall, 16-6 in conference play. The Wildcats are loaded with northern California talent and here they are plus their respective accomplishments in 2011-12:

* Nate Appel F 6-8 Fr. De La Salle HS -- 1.2 points

* Jordan Barton F 6-6 Fr. Bishop O'Dowd HS -- 4.8 points and 2.8 rebounds
 
* Amir Carraway F 6-5 So. Franklin HS -- 10.8 points and 5.0 rebounds

* Jason Conrad C 7-0 Jr. Gilroy HS -- 5.2 points and 3.7 rebounds

* Jay Flores G 6-0 Sr. Jesuit High/Sonoma State -- 9.5 points and 3.7 rebounds, plus leading the team with 140 assists and 49 steals

* Sam Hicks C 6-9 So. Liberty Christian High/Boise State -- 2.8 points and 1.3 rebounds

* Jake Lovisolo G 6-2 Jr. Del Oro HS -- 0.5 points

* Chris Magalotti C 6-10 Fr. St. Mary's HS -- redshirted

* Connor McGrath G 6-0 Fr. Serra HS -- redshirted

* Rashad Parker G 6-0 So. Castro Valley HS -- 1.8 points   

* Mike Rosaroso G 5-8 Fr. Franklin HS -- 0.8 points
 
* Jordan Semple F 6-6 Fr. Arcata HS -- 7.8 points and 6.1 rebounds plus a team-leading 30 blocked shots

* Damario Sims G 6-0 Jr. McClymonds HS -- 11.2 points and 3.1 rebounds plus 85 assists

Wright clears three to win dunk contest

At the California Preps site (a Rivals sub is required), an article is up on Chico State signee Ryan Wright winning a dunk contest at the Battle of the Valley matchup.

In the preliminary round, both [Marquis] Salmon and Wright were awarded perfect scores of 50 from the panel of judges to advance to the final.

In the final, Salmon enlisted the help of a volunteer from the audience, scoring another 50 by leaping over a young man who appeared to be of middle school age, much to the delight of the crowd.

But Wright upped the ante, enlisting the aid of teammate Troy Hammel (Valencia), opponent Chass Bryan (Oaks Christian) and his coach Tray Meeks (Alemany), who led the East squad in the game.

Then the 6-5 wing leaped over that trio, only to miss the dunk attempt.

However, under the rules of the contest, he was allowed one more chance, and the second time he not only again cleared the three figures in front of the basket but this time managed to get the ball into the basket.

He was awarded a perfect 50 score, and the panel of judges gave him the championship by acclamation.

Ryan Wright signs with Chico State

Choosing brevity, Chico State has landed a good one.

Expounding on that, "a good one" is Ryan Wright a 6-foot-6, 210 pound high wire act out of Palmdale High in southern California, the same school as graduating Wildcat senior Josh Jackson. Wright averaged 16 points and nine boards for a team that went 20-7 overall, 13-1 in league play this season.

So why Chico for the young man?

"I chose Chico State because I loved the people and the basketball program," Wright explained. "During my visit, I felt really comfortable. I'm easy to get along with and felt a bond from the get-go with the players. It felt like being around brothers."

It was a rotation of Chico coaches and players alongside Wright during his time on campus, a full court press if you will, and that helped create this feeling of a second home.

So what will he bring to the court?

Wright describes his best skill as "my athleticism. I like to run up and down the court and play above the rim."

Palmdale Coach Ryan Frazer offered this on his protege, "It's been a joy and privilege coaching Ryan. He is everything any coach could ask for, a leader on and off the floor. Whether he is going up against someone 6-foot-5 or 6-foot-8, you can't tell any difference, it's go time."

Asked about his best moment or time on the court, Wright responded with a sequence of plays coming against a rival Palmdale school: "I took a shot and a teammate tip dunked it so I got back and blocked a shot off the backboard, ran back down the court, got a pass and dunked it."

This from someone who didn't really start playing until age 11.

From talking with Chico Coach Greg Clink, Wright believes he will start out positioned at the four spot with plans to also spend time at the two and three as his game develops.

He is looking to at either psychology or "some type of veterinary studies" as his major. "I love animals," he offered, adding "I don't think there's too many 6-foot-6 black veterinarians around."

Wright particularly wanted to thank "my Lord Jesus Christ, my mother who has done an amazing job raising me to be the person I am today, Coach Frazer, and family, friends and fans."

He also had a message for his newly adopted town -- "Tell Chico it's Showtime" -- his nickname on the court.

More on the Chico State victory

Luke Reid has the fleshed-out details of Chico State's win up in Washington over Humboldt State. The Wildcats face Western Washington on Saturday in the second round of the NCAA II Men's Basketball West Regional.

Chico State 75, Humboldt State 68

It seems like they tangle about every week now and Humboldt State versus Chico State was spotlighted on the marquee again tonight in Bellingham, Washington as the two teams paired up as the #4 and #5 seeds respectively in the NCAA Division II West Region Championships.

It was 28-27 Chico after the initial 20 minutes and the Wildcats added six more points to the lead in the second half. Indicating the closeness of the evenly matched teams, CSU shot 50% overall to Humboldt's 49%.

Jay Flores led the winners with 18 points plus six assists, Amir Carraway and Jordan Semple each totaled 14 points and Jordan Barton scored 11.

For the Lumberjacks, Randy Hunter post a 16/12 double-double and Brandon Sperling went for 15 and nine.

Humboldt and Chico to meet yet again

It will be the fourth pairing up between the two schools this season:

NCAA DIVISION II MEN’S BASKETBALL WEST REGIONAL
March 9-12, 2012
Bellingham, Wash.

Friday, March 9 - First Round

* No. 1 Western Washington (25-5) vs. No. 8 Grand Canyon (19-7)

* No. 2 Alaska-Anchorage (22-6) vs. No. 7 Montana State-Billings (18-11)

* No. 3 Seattle Pacific (21-7) vs. No. 6 Dixie State (20-6)

* No. 4 Humboldt State (22-7) vs. No. 5 Chico State (24-7)

Humboldt wins CCAA tournament

It was Humboldt State over Chico State 89-76 in the championship game of the California Collegiate Athletic Association tournament. Humboldt's win earned the Lumberjacks a berth in the NCAA Division II West Region Championships.

Here's the game report. Here's the box.

Chico by two over Sonoma

Howard Senzell has the details of Chico State's come-from-behind, last-second 76-74 victory over Sonoma State in the CCAA tourney. Not knowing it was televised, we came home yesterday afternoon, started flipping the television channels and caught the last minute. It was amazing.

Luke Reid offers print, photos plus video of the Wildcat victory.

Now it's Chico State and Humboldt State in the final.

Chico and Sonoma in the CCAA tourney

It's Chico State and Sonoma State going at it this afternoon down in San Diego as the Press-Democrat reports.

Chico State keeps on rolling

Luke Reid has the latest on Chico State basketball, now a 23-6 squad after beating Cal State Dominguez Hills.

Chico State wins game and regular season championship

A 73-54 homecourt victory over Cal State Monterey Bay, powered by Jay Flores' near triple-double, provided Chico State with the win that was needed for the Wildcats to clinch the California Collegiate Athletic Association championship. Luke Reid has the specifics.

Chico State wins again

Luke Reid checks in with Chico's State's 20th win of the season, a 66-57 victory over Cal State Dominguez Hills powered by 14 three-pointers. Damario Sims and Amir Carraway each scored 16.